  | Description of this FunctionDescription of this Function |
Background
The legislative basis for the consumer affairs consultation function was the Consumers Protection Act 1964 (No.7237) which established the Consumers Protection Council. The Council's responsibilities were to investigate matters affecting the interests of consumers, to consult interested parties (eg. manufacturers, retailers and advertisers) and to make recommendations to the Minister. This Act defined matters affecting the interest of consumers as any practices used in connection with the advertising, marketing, packaging or labelling of goods or any other matter relating to their fitness for the purpose for which they are offered for sale.
The Attorney-General (VRG 19) was the responsible Minister until July 1968 when the administration of the Consumers Protection Act 1964 was transferred to the Minister of Labour and Industry and the Consumers Protection Council became a statutory authority within the Labour and Industry portfolio.
The Consumer Affairs Council and the Consumer Protection Bureau were established pursuant to the Consumer Protection Act 1970, operative from 16 November 1970. The Consumer Affairs Council assumed the functions of the Consumers Protection Council with an added function of disseminating information and encouraging consumer education.
The Consumer Affairs Committee Act 1983 provided for the establishment of the Victorian Consumer Affairs Committee as the primary consultative and Ministerial advisory body with respect to matters affecting the interests of consumers. The Committee held it's inaugural meeting on 25 February 1985. The Act was repealed in 1995 with the consequent dissolution of the Committee.